Cellular case



I 953 P. A. SCHILLING ETAL 2,647,679

CELLULAR CASE Filed Nov. 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l rwwto a 5] Rm! ,4. Sc/u'llz'ny 7770mm: 6. Maire John B-Baz'r-d Aug. 4,-1953' P. A. SCHILLING ETAL CELLULAR CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1949 3mm Paul A. Schillz'ny Thomas Ci -Maz'r-s John 5. Baird Q0511 mam;

Patented Aug. 4, 1953.

CELLULAR CASE Paul A. Schilling, Thomas Minn., assignors to Waldorf Comp n Baird, St. Paul, Paper Products G. Maths, and John B.

St. Paul, Minn., a

corporation of Minnesota Application November 28, 1949, Serial No. 129,808 4 Claims. 229-15) Our invention relates to an improvement in cellular cases and deals particularly with a type of case or tray in which may be carried a series of bottles or similar articles.

Soft drinks are often sold in case lots, each case containing twenty-four bottles. These cases are often constructed of wood and are used repeatedly over relatively long periods of service. Cases of this type formed of wood are quite expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, the dividers or filler members dividing the case into cells often are split or fractured in continuous use and the case must either be repaired or replaced.

The object of the present invention lies in the provision of acellular case formed of paper board or similar material. These cases may be produced at relatively low cost and are substantially the same size as the wooden cases often used for this purpose. The cases are somewhat lighter in weight than the wooden cases often employed for this purpose, and are tough and resilient to withstand the strain of use over a period of time.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a sectional or cellular case in which the partitions as well as the outer casing are formed of fiber. As a result the case may be virtually completely formed of paper board at a cost considerably less than the cost of production of wooden cases for the same purpose.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of fillers forming partitions between the various cells which are connected together in a manner to hold the filler members rigidly in proper relationship. Fillers are often formed by slotting a series of parallel partition forming members with vertical slots extending downwardly from the upper edges thereof and in providing intersecting partition forming members which are slotted from the lower end thereof. One series of parallel partition forming members may thus be arranged to intersect with the other series of partition forming members, but the filler members which are slotted from their upper edge often become bent out of vertical position during use of the case. We provide means of tying the vertically slotted filler members together to hold the upper edges thereof from lateral movement,

thereby eliminating anychance for these members to be bent out of vertical position.

A feature of the present invention lies in providing filler members which intersect along right angles with tying means for holding the elements in proper relationship. The partition elements which are slotted upwardly from their lower edges are provided with wire ties which extend through these members above and in line with the vertical slots therein. These wires are connected to the right angularly extending partition forming members in a manner to hold the intersecting members in proper relationship.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of fillers which are formed by'elements folded along their upper edge and extending with opposite sides in parallel contacting relation. Such partition forming elements having a rounded upper edge possess considerable strength and present a rounded edge to bottles being dropped into the case.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of reinforcing wires extending within at least some of the partition forming elements between sides thereof, these wires acting to hold the folded partition elements in proper shape.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of flanges on the lower edges of certain of the partition forming elements which are designed to lie fiat upon the floor of the case. These flanges reinforce the bottom of the case and increase the life thereof.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the manner in which the filler members are anchored in the walls of the case. The side walls of the case are provided with lining flaps which are folded to overlie the inner surfaces of the walls and which are slotted to support the fillers in proper spaced relation. Anchoring flanges on the ends of the partition forming elements may extend between the liner flaps and the p for increased anchorage.

These and other objects and novel features of our invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of our specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a case showing the general construction thereof,

Figure 2is a perspective view of the case in partially formed condition showing the manner in which the case walls are assembled.

Figure 3 is a sectional view horizontally through the case on a plane parallel to the bottom of the case.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of certain of the partition forming elements showing the manner in which these elements are assembled.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of the body of the case showing the construction thereof.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the case walls blank used in the formation of certain of the partition forming elements.

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the blank from which the remaining partition forming elements are formed.

The case A is provided with a body best shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The body includes a bottom panel ill which is foldab'ly connected along parallel fold lines ll and IE to side wall panels l3 and id respectively. The panel i3 is connected along a fold line i5 to a side wall liner panel It. This liner panel i6 is provided at each end thereof with an anchoring tab. O'n'e "tab IT is connected to one end of the "panel 1 6 along a fold line IS. The other anchoring tabZ'il is connected to the other end of the panel 56 along a fold line 2 l.

The side wall panel i l is connected along'a fold line 22 to a liner panel 23. One end of the liner panel 23 is connected along a fold line M to an anchoring tab The other end of the liner panel 23 is connected along a fold line 28 to an anchoring tab Z'l.

The bottom panel ill is connected along fold lines 29 and 38 to end wall panels 31 and 32 respectively. The fold lines 28 and are preferably at right angles to the fold lines l1 and E2. The end wall panel 3! is connected along a fold line'32 to a wall liner panel 33. The ends of the w'all'panel 3| are provided with anchoring flanges 34 and 85 connected thereto along fold lines 36 and 31 which are substantially extensions of the fold lines H and H2.

The partition forming elements which extend longitudinally of the case are best illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings. These elements are indicated in general by the numeral and include wall panels M3 and ll connected along a fold line 49. Anchoring tabs or flaps Ell and Bi are conn'eoted to the panels 46 and 4'? along a fold line 52, while similar anchoring flaps or tabs 53 and 54 are connected to the wall panels 16 and il along a fold line 55. The fold line 49 is arranged to be uppermost when the partition forming members 45 are in place so as to provide a folded upper edge on these longitudinally extending members.

The transversely extending partition forming elements are best shown in Figure 7 of the drawings and are indicated by the numeral 55. The partition forming members 56 include wall panels 51 and 59 connected along a center fold line '51. The panels El and 59 are provided at one end with anchoring tabs or flaps 6| and B2 respectively, connected along the foldline 63. The other ends of the walls 51 and 59 areprovi'ded with anchoring tabs or flaps 64 and 55 respectively, which are foldably connected to their wall panels along a fold line 66.

In preferred form of construction the wall panels ill and 59 are connected along parallel fold lines 61 and 69 to base flanges 70- and H. The flanges iii and ii are designed to overlie the bottom 19 of the case and to reinforce the same.

The case is assembled by first arranging the fillers upon the base panel Hi. If preferred the fillers can be separately formed and placed upon the base panel in unison. The partition elements 45 are preferably folded along their center line 49 so that the opposite sides i6 and M are in generally parallel virtually contacting position. The panels '46 and il are each provided with a series of slots therein, the slots of one panel aligning with the slots of the other. The panel 45 is provided with a series of slots 12 which extend and 19 are aligned.

edge substantially at right angles to the edge and to the center fold line 43. A similar series of slots 13 are provided in the panel 41 in alignment with the slots 12. The ends of the slots are preferably tapered or beveled as indicated at M and 15 to simplify the assembly problem.

The partition elements '58 are similarly folded about their center fold line 6% and the flanges '10 and H are folded outwardly into co-planer relationship. Slots 16 which intersect the fold line 69 at right angles and extend an equal distance into both panels 51 and iii! are provided in this partition unit. The folded partition units 45 are in" 's'e'rted'downwardly over the folded partition units 56 in 's'u'ch'a way that the slots l2 and f3 embrace Eportions'o'f the panels 51 and 59 aligned with the slots 16. When thus assembled the partitions intersect in the manner best illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The partition elements 45 are provided with apertures H in the panel 45 and with aligned apertures I9 in the panel 41. In folded condition of the partition units 45 the apertures l'i Wire rods 8!! are inserted between the panels 5'! and 59 of the partition units 56 and extend through the apertures l! and ii! of the partition units 45. These wires hold the upper portions of the partition units 56 from lateral movement relative to the partition units 45 and reinforce these units 56. The Wire rods S i also prevent accidental disengagement of the partition units 45.

Figure 4 is diagrammatic in form and shows the manner in which the rods 89 extend through the partition units. In actual practice the partition unit 55 must be in place before the wire rod Bi is inserted and this wire rod can not be inserted prior to the assembly of the partition units 56 as might seem indicated from Figure 4;.

When the partition units have been connected together they are placed upon the bottom panel In of the case in the manner best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The end flanges 56 and 51 at one end -of the partition unit d5 are bent into co-planar relationship and the flanges 53 and 54 are similarly folded into a common plane. The anchoring tabs or flanges SI and 31! of the partition unit 56 are also folded into the same plane as are the flanges or flaps Gi l and G5 at the other end thereof.

When the case has been assembled to this point the end walls -31 and 32 are folded upwardly into upstanding position and the anchoring ilaps 35, Al and 42 are bent into right angular relation with these walls 3| and 32. The front and rear walls 1-3 and M are next folded upwardly into upstanding relation, the ends of these walls overlapping the flaps 34, 35, ll and 52. It will be noted that these anchoring flaps fold into open areas at the corners of the partition unit and therefore do not increase the thickness of the side walls at these points.

The flange i6 is next folded into the case to lie inwardly of the anchoring flanges iii and 62 at one end of the partition units 55. Th flange 23 is also folded down to lie inwardly of the anchoring flaps 64 and 65 as well as the attaching flaps inwardly from the free 36 and 42 of the end walls. During this folding action the flaps I1 and 29 of the flange l5 fold inwardly of the end panels 3i and Similarly the flaps 25 and 2"! fold inwardly of these end walls 3! and 32. These flaps ll, 2%, 2'5 and 2? lie in the same plane as the anchoring flaps Eiii, all, 53 and fil of the'partition units'45.

As a next step of the assembly operation the flanges 33 and 40 are folded into the case to lie inwardly of the end walls 3| and 32. These end flanges overlie the anchoring flanges 50, 5|, 53 and 54 of the partition units 45 and firmly anchor the ends of these partition units within the wall structure. The flaps l6 and 23 are slotted as indicated at 8! and 82 respectively so as to fit within the partition structure. The end flanges 33 and 40 are similarly slotted as indicated at 83 and 84 to fit within the partition structure. The various flanges and walls are next stitched in place by a stitcher of usual construction, the flaps I6, 23, 33 and 40' being stitched to the side and end walls to which they are foldably connected.

The end wall 3! and the flap 33 connected thereto are provided with aligned finger openings 85 by means of which one end of the case may be engaged. The walls 32 and 40 are pro vided with similar finger holes 96 which are arranged in registry. The finger holes 86 provide a means of supporting the other end of the case.

It will be seen that in preferred form of construction the partition units are firmly anchored to the case walls and reinforce the side and end walls of the case. Similarly the flanges 10 and H of the partition units 56 preferably overlie and reinforce the bottom panel I0 of the case. The partition units are centrally folded so as to pre-' sent an upwardly directed folded edge so as to guide bottles into the various partitions. Similarly the flanges I6, 23, 33 and 40 present upwardy directed folded edges which present a smooth upper surface to the case.

The case may be provided with suitable drain openings not illustrated in the drawings so that any liquid within the case may easily drain therefrom. The position and location of such openings is not believed of importance in the present invention.

In accordance with the patent statutes, We have described the principles of construction and operation of our bottle case and while we have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. A cellular case including a partition structure, the partition structure including a series of first parallel partition members and a series of second parallel partition members intersecting the first partition members at substantially rig-ht angles, the first partition members each including a pair of Wall panels foldably connected along their upper edges and having vertical slots therein communicating with their lower edges, the second partition members including parallel panels foldably connected together along their upper edges and having vertical slots therein communicating with the upper edges, the slots of each partition member being designed to accommodate a portion of an intersecting partition therein terminating in spaced relation to the upper edges thereof engageable over said second partition members to hold the same in place, and said side Walls holding said wires from endwise movement.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and including flanges hingedly connected to the lower edges of the second partition members and folded outwardly to overlie the bottom panel and engage in edge abutting relation to form a continuous liner for said bottom panel, said flaps on said side walls holding said flanges fiat against said bottom panel.

3. A cellular case including a partition structure, the partition structure including a series first parallel partition members and a series of second parallel partition members intersecting the first partition members at substantially right angles, the first partition members each including a pair of wall panels foldably connected along their upper edges and having vertical slots therein communicating with their lower edges, the second partition members including parallel panels foldably connected together along their upper edges and having vertical slots therein communicating with the upper edges, the slots of each partition member being designed to accommodate a portion of an intersecting partition member, out-turned flanges on the ends of said panels of all of said partition forming members, said flanges extending in edge abutting relation to form side and end walls encircling said partition structure.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and including an outer shell having a bottom panel, side wall panels foldably connected to the bottom panel and extending outwardly of said flanges on said partition forming members, and flanges on said wall panels foldable inwardly of the flanges on said partition forming members.

PAUL A. SCI-IILLING. THOMAS G. MAIRS. JOHN B. BAIRD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 524,625 Wollard Aug. 14, 1894 937,805 Hilliker Oct. 26, 1909 963,250 Rose July 5, 1910 973,429 Hilliker Oct. 18, 1910 1,202,985 Fogg Oct. 31, 1916 1,475,983 Casey Dec. 4, 1923 1,890,965 Boeye Dec. 13, 1932 2,312,594 Smith Mar. 2, 1943 2,475,107 Newsom July 5, 1949 2,535,289 Hopp Dec. 26, 1950 

